Author: Wade Foley

Why recovery is an important topic for young people When our modern idea of recovery from drugs and alcohol first took form in the 1930s, young people were not factored into the equation of sobriety. In fact during those early years of recovery very few women were even introduced to the […]

Take care of yourself to help your loved one People in recovery who have strong, involved support systems are more likely to recover than those who don’t. However, if you want to help your loved one get sober you have to remember to take care of yourself also. You are your […]

Why it is important to prioritize self-care It is so easy in the fast paced modern society that we live in to forget to stop, breath, and take care of ourselves. We can get so caught up in the daily goings on, the schedules, and the obligations that we completely neglect the […]

The emergence of opioid dependence among adolescents Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health just completed a research study focusing on the emergence of opioid dependence among adolescents, ages 12-17, emerging adults, ages 18-25, and young adults, ages 26-34, over the past ten year. The study found that there was a 37 […]

Opioid abuse and the dangerous epidemic It is no secret that synthetic opioids have become a huge problem in this country, to the point where President Obama has addressed the issue in an attempt to raise awareness among the population about the potential epidemic that we have on our hands. He has […]

How Peer Support Helps People With Addiction Peer support has been used as a means to help people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction for almost a hundred years now. Starting with groups such as the Oxford Group, a precursor to Alcoholics Anonymous, people […]

Addiction and its Effect on Suicide Addiction and suicide sometimes, unfortunately, goes hand and hand. A person caught in the depths of addiction can often times see no way out and as a result, believe that their only option is to commit suicide. This is always an extremely sad thing to hear, not only […]

Moving forward in recovery-oriented systems of care Ohio’s 2017 Behavioral Health Conference is coming up soon and we wanted to share some information about the event with you. The conference is taking place on January 10-11 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. The theme for this year’s conference is “Moving Forward in […]

How technology can support your recovery There was a time when the only technologies that were available to aid you in your recovery were the telephone and the printing press. This, however, is not the case today and there are now hundreds of applications and technology to support your recovery. These will come in […]

The Importance of National Recovery Month September 1st marks the beginning of the 27th National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month is intended as a month to educate the American population on the benefits that substance abuse treatment and other mental health services can offer to those struggling with substance abuse problems or mental […]

Steps to take to support loved ones struggling with addiction and mental illness Having a family member who is struggling with addiction or a mental illness can be heartbreaking for the family. A feeling of powerlessness can accompany such a situation as family members stand by helpless, unaware of what they can do. Often […]

Twitter chats: getting others involved on the social platform by asking questions and engaging with other people’s answers. Twitter chats are a great way to educate and involve other individuals and businesses on Twitter. It is a group of people coming together and providing their thoughts and advice on the topic that the host chooses. […]

The stigma of addiction and mental illness As far as we’ve come as a society in our understanding of addiction there is still an overarching societal stigma that comes with being an addict or an alcoholic. The pervasive thought being that addicts and alcoholics are some shadowy figures lurking around the corner ready to […]

Lindsey from Crazysobergirl wrote about some great ways to use a blank notebook as a coping mechanism for addiction. In recovery, ideas like these can be very beneficial and useful. Check out her ideas below. I don’t know about […]

The story of recovery coach: Chris Hall As Ascent continues to grow and expand to new treatment centers, we are constantly reminded just how invaluable our coaches and support team are. Without recovery coaches and supervisors being accessible 24/7/365, Ascent wouldn’t be what it is. These coaches make it possible for people in recovery to […]

The Importance Of Peers And Mentors In Recovery Recovery is a journey, and if you are new to it, the whole thing may be mysterious. What does it mean to live a life of recovery? How will you do it? What happens when you have cravings or run into problems? A Guide To […]

We are more than just a statistic Often times it is difficult to look beyond the statistics in life. This can be especially true for anyone living with addiction or mental illness. Guest blogger Victoria Jones is here, however, to share her story and why it is important to realize that you are more […]

Goodbye, addiction… Many of us would love to write a goodbye letter to our addictions. It’s a good exercise to voice how addiction made you feel and how you feel now that you are in recovery. And if you are still trying to find recovery, well then, it’s a great way to start that […]

The benefits of technology for the treatment community Technology is a big part of our everyday lives. Mobile phones and apps, tablets, laptops and social media have allowed us to be connected in ways most of us would never have dreamed of just two decades ago. Some people believe that all this technology […]

An open letter to those with mental illness Guest blog by Lindsey Frazier Dear reader, I am so terribly sorry that you suffer from mental illness, but know that you are not alone. I, too, know the stigma that comes along with having mental illness and I know just how hard […]

Today, we are featuring a blog by a guest reader named Lindsey on suicide and her experiences. Dear Reader, I don’t know what you’re struggling with, what has brought you to this point, but I hope you will take a minute to read this.. I know where you’re at, the […]

An addiction-recovery treatment plan As a post-parent coach, Jane Adams PhD, has counseled many parents who’ve had to cope with a young adult’s substance abuse. She has followed them through the bewildering array of options for addicts, ranging from in-patient rehab to day treatment, 12-step programs to individualized or family therapy. Depending […]

Where to find addiction-recovery coaching Addiction-recovery coaching might sound unfamiliar to most people. For a long time, people have entered rehab or treatment facilities in order to find recovery. Many individuals have experienced successful recovery from addiction while in these facilities, but struggle with remaining in recovery after they leave. That […]

7 apps for addiction-recovery In today’s mobile age, innovations are constantly being made to improve industry methods. That is no different in the recovery industry. Sure, scheduled meetings in physical locations are still common and effective for many people in recovery. Mobile apps, however, are quickly changing–and improving–how people in recovery stay connected to […]

Ascent’s presentation at the 2016 Ohio Recovery Conference Ohio’s 2016 Recovery Conference is quickly approaching. This conference will take place on June 1-2, 2016 and offer education to individuals in recovery and their family members throughout Ohio. This year’s hosts are the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities and the Ohio Department of Mental […]

Rise2Recovery podcast: industry leaders in addiction and mental health Everyone has a story. Every single person has had experiences that have shaped their life, for better or worse. How each person reacts to those experiences can also affect the outcome. This is especially true for people in recovery or with mental health conditions. Every one […]

What to know about Mental Health Awareness Month It’s hard to believe that May is already here. Summer is fast approaching and so are many great mental health and addiction events. The arrival of May also means more awareness around mental health. Yes, May is mental health awareness month so we have decided to […]

What is addiction, really? ad·dic·tion əˈdikSH(ə)n/ noun noun: addiction; plural noun: addictions the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. “Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the […]

Addiction recovery conferences and the Ascent app A couple of weeks ago we wrote about some of the events we would be attending this year relating to addiction and mental health. One of those events is the Ohio Opiate Conference which is being held in Columbus, Ohio next Monday and Tuesday and the other […]

The reaction to the Saturday Night Live “Heroin AM” skit was immediate on Saturday night and gained momentum throughout the remainder of the weekend. Many people informed on the heroin addiction epidemic or who have experienced the effects of addiction were outraged by the spot. There are several petitions circulating in response to SNL’s distasteful […]